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Spot Prawn Festival returns to Vancouver with chowder and brunch

Chefs will prepare chowder made with spot prawns fresh off the boat, plus more...
Spot prawn festival
To celebrate the short-lived span when this oceanic delicacy can be found in B.C.’s waters, the Spot Prawn Festival will return to Fisherman’s Wharf for a day of feasting and fun.

Are you ready for spot prawn season? To celebrate the short-lived span when this oceanic delicacy can be found in B.C.’s waters, the Spot Prawn Festival will return to Fisherman’s Wharf for a day of feasting and fun.

Taking place on May 19, 2019, the Spot Prawn Festival celebrates its 13th edition with several ways to enjoy fresh, delicious local spot prawns at the event.

Chefs will prepare chowder made with spot prawns fresh off the boat, served with bread from Terra Bread. Alternatively, the fest features a brunch offering a six-dish tasting menu with fresh-baked bread from Terra and wine sample pours, beer, and coffee, as well as a sweet treat.

Of course, if you want to get those ocean gems into your own kitchens, you can buy the prawns right off the docks at the fest. Hang out and enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, chef demos, and more. During spot prawn season, you’ll also want to look for restaurants in Metro Vancouver featuring local spot prawns on their menus.

The Spot Prawn Festival
The Spot Prawn Festival will return to Fisherman’s Wharf for a day of feasting and fun. - Chef’s Table Society of British Columbia/Facebook

Admission is free to the festival grounds for buying prawns, and enjoying the music and activities. Spot prawn chowder costs $12 a serving, and can be taken to go. The “grazing style” brunch is ticketed at $60 per person. You can pre-purchase your chowder ticket and time slot to cut down on waits. You’ll want to buy a brunch ticket ahead of the event. Details on where to purchase tickets are available online here.

Spot prawn season in B.C. starts in May and lasts about six to eight weeks. The shrimp are known for their delicate flavour, and are popular when fresh-caught and served here in B.C., or frozen at sea and shipped across the Pacific to Asian consumers.

According to Ocean Wise, spot prawns are declining, however “it is unlikely that overfishing is occurring.” The festival remains committed to sourcing sustainably harvest spot prawns.

As always, the Spot Prawn Festival is put on by the Chef’s Table Society of BC.

13th Annual Spot Prawn Festival

When: May 19, 2019 from 11:30 am to 3 pm
Where: Fisherman’s Wharf at False Creek
Tickets: Free admission to grounds. Chowder is $12 and can be pre-purchased by time slot. Brunch is $60 and should be pre-purchased. Details here.